Artificial crab, (which often still has crab meat in it) can be delicious if sautéed, and taste even more like real crab. Here’s what I’ve come up with:

Pack of artificial crab

1 tbsp. butter

1-2 tsp. minced garlic

Old Bay seasoning, to taste

Salt, to taste

1 tbsp. sherry (or to taste, optional)

Lemon juice

Chopped fresh tarragon, and/or parsley, chives, scallions (I used scallions, which you may want to cook with the crab)

Pinch of MSG (optional, but ups the meaty flavor)

Add all ingredients except sherry, lemon juice, and herbs, but be light on seasoning at first. Sautée on low to medium-low 5-10 minutes or until nicely browned and heated through, while tossing and turning them often. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking along the way. Things will brown quickly, so watch the temperature. Add the sherry a couple minutes before the end. Garnish with a spritz of lemon juice and fresh herbs.

Tip: You can make a glaze sauce if you use sherry. Take the crab out, add more sherry and cook it down until desired thickness. To make a white sauce, add flour and cook it for a minute on low heat (you’ll likely need to add more butter). On low to medium-low heat, add milk or cream and stir with whisk until it reaches the desired thickness. Season to taste (add dried herbs here if that’s what’s available) and pour over crab before garnishing it with herbs and lemon juice.